This is the fourth in a series of five commentaries by Canadian farm leaders on agriculture issues in this federal election.

The value of farming

By Bob Friesen, President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture

'Value-added' is something of a buzzword in business today. It means doing something extra, going a bit further to increase the value of a product on the market, and for the consumer.

Canadian farmers and industry today offer consumers a wealth of added value in the food they produce. The modern Canadian producer is involved in voluntary environmental and food safety initiatives that guarantee the food on our plates is not only the highest quality in the world, but is also the safest and produced with the least impact on our sensitive environment.

In the 1990s the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and major national commodity groups recognized the growing consumer demand for measurable standards in food safety. In response we began the development of a farmer-led, Canadian approach to food safety. Today 19 national commodity groups have developed or are developing auditable national on-farm food safety programs for their producers.

Likewise on environmental issues farmers are taking the lead. Agricultural producers live and work on the land, so they are naturally the most committed environmental stewards. Across the country they are working to reduce the environmental impact of their operations through a host of measures like environmental farm plans, best management practices and integrated pest management methods.

The challenge farmers face is these voluntary initiatives come at a cost, and the prices farmers are getting for their goods have not risen to cover those costs. At a time when farm profitability is already low as a result of factors beyond farmers' control - weather disasters, distorted global markets and animal disease issues - farmers are wondering how they can continue to deliver these public services and still remain economically viable.

This is where this election comes in. The election is an opportunity for Canada's prospective political leaders to show their support for farmer-led initiatives, and to give their ideas for helping farmers stay competitive and profitable while pursuing these initiatives.

On food safety, farmers need their government to commit to continuing the unique producer-led, industry/government partnership that has been developed. Any party that hopes to form a government must recognize the importance of these programs being owned and managed by industry, and the importance of government support (economic, facilitative and political) for these programs.

On the environment, farmers need their government to recognize the voluntary initiatives being undertaken and that farmers should not be forced to bear the cost of that alone. Government must commit to working alongside industry in drafting new environmental regulations so as not to place additional, undue burden on producers. The competitiveness of Canada's agriculture industry can be boosted by increasing the efficiencies and accountability in current systems such as the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The PMRA is denying Canadian farmers the use of many safe and effective pest control products that are already in use in the U.S. and Europe. Canada needs to push for an internationally-harmonized approval process that is efficient both in terms of time and cost.

Perhaps the most important thing farmers need from their government, however, is a commitment that all policy development on food safety and the environment be done in partnership with industry.

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.